*4.3. Problem Analysis of PLES and Exploitation Suggestions*

#### 4.3.1. Problem Analysis of PLES

The specialties of the small islands (e.g., low environmental carrying capacity and limited natural resources) restrict the production and living activities of the island. With the different degrees of anthropogenic activities and exploitation in various types of islands, the ecological environment has been affected at different levels: (1) The overall threat to ES in bedrock islands is less than that of other island types. Among them, ES of the island– continent part is less contaminated by agricultural and domestic sewage. The primary pollution risk is concentrated in the intertidal zone, mainly from the harbor lands and aquaculture ponds, especially in Hailing Islands. (2) The contradictions between PS, LS, and ES in the sedimentary island are more prominent. The problems are as follows: most sedimentary islands have no garbage disposal facilities except for the islands with large areas (e.g., Nansan Island and Donghai Island); much domestic and agricultural sewage threatens the ES of the island–continent part after intense exploitation, especially on the natural wetlands; and the mangrove forests and the mudflats in the intertidal zone are threatened by the high-density aquaculture ponds in disordered distribution. (3) According to the field investigation, the water shortage and overuse by tourism and agriculture are the main ecological issues for the volcanic island.

The production activities of the islanders were restricted by the frequent wind disasters and water scarcity of these islands. In order to increase their income, the islanders on the sedimentary and volcanic islands adopted large-scale and high-density aquaculture systems and drought-tolerant economic crop patterns. However, the income of islanders who participated in traditional agriculture is still unstable. This leads to the obvious population loss, farmland abandonment, and homestead hollowing of the agricultural areas. Although the islanders can increase their income by engaging in tourism on the bedrock islands, the islanders who participated in traditional agriculture face the same problems as the sedimentary islands and volcanic islands.

Overall, low exploitation can help to keep the PLES balance of small islands because it can sustain the available natural resources for production and living activities and have fewer threats to the ES. The PLES of bedrock islands maintains the balance through the low exploitation rate and comparatively abundant natural resources. However, the drastic human–land conflict causes a PLES imbalance on the sedimentary and volcanic islands.

#### 4.3.2. Exploitation Suggestions

It is suggested that ecological carrying capacity and self-purification should be emphasized. Additionally, the core and buffer protection zones of the ecology and cultural relics should be established when further developing and planning these islands. To balance the PLES of these islands and meet the needs of the islanders, intensive agriculture, and fisheries, eco-friendly and novel industries with higher technologies can be introduced on

these islands. Specifically, the development modes such as ecological tourism are more applicable to the bedrock islands. Ecological restoration should be considered before further exploiting the sedimentary islands. During the volcanic island exploitation, the agricultural planting structure and tourism mode should be fully considered for the sustainable use of water resources. Moreover, attention should be paid to the public infrastructure, such as the schools, transportation facilities, and garbage disposal facilities, to improve the livability of LS in these islands.
